Taking the stress out of holidays abroad and in the UK

And for peace of mind and to ensure you can get help in an emergency when away from home, travel insurance is vital. But in the multitude of jobs to do before leaving, travel insurance can sometimes get overlooked.

However travellers from Worcestershire using Birmingham Airport are now able to buy last-minute travel insurance at the airport using a self-service digital kiosk.

Insurer Columbus Direct is rolling out a scheme to install its kiosks in nine UK travel hubs this summer including Birmingham Airport, London City, Luton, Bristol, Newcastle, East Midlands, Southampton and Edinburgh.

The Birmingham kiosk is already up and running and it follows a successful trial which started at London Gatwick Airport last year.

The good news for travellers who need to get travel insurance just before they fly is that it won’t cost any more than the pre-arranged online quotes from Columbus Direct and it takes about three minutes to buy using the kiosk.

Alison Wild, head of marketing at Columbus Direct, said: “We are incredibly excited about the official roll-out of our digital kiosks throughout the UK.

“Our customer insight has enabled us to identify a rise in the number of so-called ‘last minuters’, who know they require travel insurance but simply haven’t got around to buying it in advance of departure.

“Travellers have long been buying foreign currency or picking up rental car at airports, so offering them the opportunity to purchase last-minute travel insurance just makes sense.

“We have introduced the kiosk-led solution to make insurance purchase a hassle-free, simple process for busy people as well as for those who might not have given much thought to the matter prior to their trip.

“With this new service offering we can provide holidaymakers protection against any eventualities, and most importantly, peace of mind.”

According to ABTA, almost a quarter of holidaymakers travelled without insurance last year. Young adults are the most likely group to travel uninsured, with only 69 per cent taking out a policy compared with a national average of 78 per cent. Almost half of young adults believe that travel insurance is not necessary.

It is estimated travel insurers paid out about £370 million in 2014, according to ABTA. Medical treatment was the most common cause for claim - more than cancellation costs or lost and stolen possessions, while more than £206 million was paid out to cover the cost of emergency medical treatment amounting to almost £4 million a week.

And it can be worth taking out travel insurance when holidaying in the UK too as the unexpected – such as cancellations due to illness or injury – can happen.

According to breakdown specialist Green Flag, more Brits are taking holidays in the UK this year. It says 70 per cent of holidaymakers will take a mini break in the UK this year and 48 per cent will take a long holiday in the UK.

It also says driving holidays are increasing in popularity with 56 per cent of people opting to get behind the wheel and drive to their holiday destination.

Green Flag research reveals the most popular reason why people take their car is because it gives them the freedom to explore the area where they are staying, while others prefer to drive because they feel it saves money over other forms of transport.

However, holidaying by car is not without its pitfalls. Green Flag expects nearly 600,000 breakdowns this summer and the most likely cause of breakdown misery (nearly 130,000) will be faulty batteries, while there will be around 73,000 punctures and 52,000 breakdowns due to engine faults. Other problems include brake issues, filling up with the wrong fuel, running out of fuel, clutch failure, overheating engine and locking the keys inside the car.

For those who like to enjoy a leisurely stress-free drive to their holiday destination, Green Flag is recommending its five top stop offs around the UK giving drivers a chance to take a break from behind the wheel, have a swim, stretch their legs and enjoy some local history.

1. Portishead Lido, Somerset: Open-air pool, 10 minutes off M5. Perfect for a stop off when travelling to or from the South West, this open-air pool is located on the Somerset coasts. Great for those who want to cool down and grab a bite to eat.

2. Cholwell Riding Stables, Dartmoor, Devon – Off the A30. Swap the car seat for the saddle and break up the journey on the A30 to Cornwall, by booking a horse ride for the kids at Cholwell Riding Stables.

3. Tebay Services, M6, Cumbria – Soft play areas, marked footpath, with views of the Cumbrian hills. A service station known for its lack of fast food restaurants and slot machines, you can instead enjoy a locally cooked meal while taking in the views of the Cumbrian hills. Its marked footpath is the perfect place to stretch your legs during a lengthy drive.

4. Clevedon Seafront & Pier – M5 Motorway Junction 20. Just six minutes from the M5, the seaside town of Clevedon makes for an idyllic short break. Its boating lake, miniature train rides and seaside walks will make drivers want to extent their visit.

5. The Gloucester Waterways Museum – M5 Motorway Junction 11. Soak up local history of the UK's canals and Gloucester Docks with a short stop off just 14 minutes from the M5. The museum is suitable for children for all ages, with interactive displays and miniature canal boat racing.

Nick Reid, head of transformation at Green Flag, said: "We're pleased to see that more people are enjoying holidaying closer to home – and that so many of us are opting to hit the roads to explore the local sights.

"At Green Flag we believe that is should be about the journey as much as the destination and having the ability to stop off and recoup as many times as you need, is one of the many advantages of getting behind the wheel.

“We hope that our mini stop-off guide will help to encourage Brits to opt for driving holidays, take the road less travelled and enjoy places the UK has to offer whilst heading for their holiday destinations."